Woman allegedly sets fire to blankets, control panel on JetBlue flight to Puerto Rico
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Federal authorities arrested a woman who allegedly set two blankets and a control panel on fire during a JetBlue flight bound for Puerto Rico.
The FBI said Wednesday that Idializ Gomez used a lighter to burn the items mid-flight. She was charged after landing in the southern Puerto Rico town of Ponce aboard a flight that originated in New York City.
The FBI said in a statement that the woman had been charged with the destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities in violation of Title 18 USC Section 32(a)(1).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The agency said that the incident occurred Tuesday before dawn. It’s unclear the motive behind the attempted fires.
U.S. federal regulators allow passengers to carry one lighter in their carry-on baggage.
JetBlue said the incident was under investigation and wouldn’t comment further on the matter, according to The Sun.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.